The west London club were given permission in January to redevelop their 105-year-old home into a 30,000 capacity all-seater stadium.

But costs have since spiralled from �70m to more than �100m.

Many Fulham fans believe chairman Mohammed al Fayed is contemplating abandoning the plans because of their increasing expense.

And news that the club have been in talks over the possible purchase of a 14-acre site in Shepherds Bush will have done nothing to allay those fears.

The site is close to Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road stadium, which Fulham will share this season while work is scheduled to commence at the Cottage.

But the land is now expected to be sold for an office development rather than a football ground.

Fulham have admitted their interest in the site.

But they insist they are merely drawing up contingency plans to cope with any possible collapse of their redevelopment scheme, which has been vehemently opposed by local residents.

The club said in a statement: "We did enter into discussions with a view to obtaining the site at Wood Lane, west London, as a fallback position, should we be prevented from developing Craven Cottage in the long term.

"In view of the setbacks the club has faced, it would have been foolhardy not to keep options open to ensure that we are able to construct a stadium we can be proud of - a stadium that will fulfil Fulham Football Club's aspirations for the future."